and they found the apostle greatly busied
over the sick men whom he all day healed
through the touch of his hands in the Saviour's name.
When the queen saw such wonders done by him,
then said she, being astonished: — 'Cursed are the men
who will not believe such works as these.'
There stood there a leper with decayed body,
horrible in appearance, and Thomas healed him,
and baptized him in the queen's presence.
Then fell she at his feet praying for baptism,
and with faith desired the eternal life,
and said that she believed on the living God.
Then Thomas blithely blessed the queen,
and diligently taught her the faith, and said:
'My Lord hath called me to come to Him,
and my time is now come to depart out of the world;
receive now therefore baptism of me quickly.'
Then he baptized her and many others with her,
men and women, and innocent children,
and taught them earnestly that they should love their church,
and reverence priests; and so they went home.
Then came the queen at evening home to the king,
and he forthwith said to her: ' Thou hast been very long.'
She said to him again: ' Ye said that my sister —
and I myself likewise thought so — was witless;
but she hath verily come to true wisdom
in that she hath made me partaker of the eternal life.
Verily I saw the apostle himself,
who giveth saving counsel unto every man.
Now thou, king, mayest make thyself immortal
if thou wilt hear the holy apostle;
thou wilt not die eternally if thou truly believest.'
Then feared the king, and bade men fetch to him
